Consecutive-numbering machine



(No Model.)

J. H. REINHARDT.

GONSBCUTIVE NUMBERING MACHINE.

No. 425,581. Patented Apr. 15, 1890.

*n ASMA www diag.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES Il. REINHARDT, OF BROOKLYN, NEV YORK, ASSIGNOR TO JOSEPH VETTER, OF MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE.

CONSECUTIVE-NUMBERING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 425,581, dated April 15, 1890.

Application filed February l2, 1889. Serial No. 299,593. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, JAMES H. REINHAEDT, of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Consecutive-Numbering Machines; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact descrip tion thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, making a part of this specification.

My invention relates to consecutivenumbering machines adapted to be locked in a form of type to produce an imprint therefrom simultaneously with the type.

lt has for its object to produce a numbering-head which will print a consecutive series of numbers up to an even one hundred or one thousand or other number represented by a unit and ciphers, and thereupon automatically and without interruption begin again and repeat the series, and Will design ate automatically and consecutively the iirst letters of the alphabet in order opposite each of said series so repeated.

It has for its further object an automatic inking of the nu mbering-Wheels, each with an ink of a different color, and the prevention of an interchange of the Wheels, for the purpose of increasing the difficulty of counterfeiting any given series of numbers.

lt consists in the construction, arrangement, and combination of parts, as hereinafter fully described and claimed, whereby said objects are severally attained.

ln the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a top or plan view of my improved consecutive-numbering head; Fig. 2, atransverse section through one end thereof in line x of Fig. 1,illustratin g the single cipher-Wheel and its pawl and ratchet and the movement of the inking-pad and levers. Fig. 3 is a similar section in line y y of Fig. l, illustrating the movement of the hundreds-wheel. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the alphabetwheel detached; Fig. 5, a section in line z c of Fig. 3 through a portion of the hundreds-Wheel and adjacent alphabet Wheel, illustrating the movement of the pawl and the operation of the pin actuated thereby to produce a simultaneous movement of the two wheels at proper intervals. Figs. G and 7 are oross-sections of the axial shaft alongside of the tens-wheel with said wheel in side elevation, illustrating the movement of the drop-cipher fitted there- 5 5 in. Fig. S is a detail in perspective of the post carrying the drop-cipher. Fig. 9 is a diametric section of the wheel carrying the drop-cipher and of the wheel next to the right thereof, illustrating the movement by which the latter is made in its rotation to automa-tically lift the drop-cipher. Fig. l0 is a detail view, in elevation7 of the grooved portion of the axial shaft over which the tens-wheel carrying the drop-cipher is made to revolve. Fig. ll is a vertical section in line c c of Figs. l and 2, illustrating the arrangement of the pivoted levers by which the movement of the plunger is transmitted to the swinging levers actuating the pawls and inking device. Fig. 12 is a central vertical section of the plunger, showing in elevation the spring-seated pin for regulatin gthe throwof the plunger; and Fig. 13 is a sectional detail, on an enlarged scale,illus trating more clearly the spring-pawl pin and finger for moving the alphabet-wheel.

Similar letters indicate like parts in all of the figures.

A represents the outer casing inclosing and supporting the movements of my improved numberinghead, B the fixed axial shaft upon which the printing-wheels revolve loosely, and C the pawl-actuating plunger mounted within the casing A, at the front thereof, upon springs b b. (See Figs. 2 and 3.) A wide recess cis formed in that face of the plunger C which is next to the casing to extend across its entire length and receive and afford room for the play of levers D D, (see Fig. 11,) which are pivoted one above the other upon stud-pins d d, projecting inwardly from the proximate face of the casing. The pivot foreach lever D is placed near to one end thereof, said end being slotted to engage apin projecting from the plunger. The opposite longer end of the lever is ext-ended across the recess c, as shown in Fig. 11, to engage one arm of one of the two pawl-levers E E, pivoted to oscillate upon the axial shaft l at each end of the casing, upon the inner side IOC) thereof, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 11. By means of thelevers D D a comparatively short movement of the plunger C will operate to produce the requisite length of stroke of the pawl-levers E E. These pawl-levers, swinging in unison, are connected by a cross-bar e and also by a parallel rod e', (see Fig. 3,) upon which are pivoted the several spring-actuating pawls L L2, actuating the numbering-wheels, as hereinafter described. Being thus connected to move in unison, it is evident that the pawl-levers E E may be actuated by a single lever D, if preferred.

The numbering-wheels consist of the customary units, tens, and hundreds wheels F, G, and H, revolving on the shaft B, and of a cipher-wheel I, mounted to the left of the units-wheel F, and an alphabet-wheel J, mounted to the right of the hundreds-wheel, as shown in Fig. 1.

The units-wheel F is actuated in the customary manner one step at each vibration of the pawl-levers E E by the engagement of one of the pawls L with a ratchet-wheel f, attached to said units-wheel on'the left thereof and formed with ten notches. One of said notches is made, as is usual, deeper than the rest to permit the pawl L of the tens-wheel G to drop into engagement with its ratchetwheel g and move said wheel one step as the units-wheel moves from 9 to O. Said ratchetwheel g is likewise formed with one deep notch to permit the pawl L2, actuating the hundreds-wheel H, to drop into engagement with the ratchet-wheel attached to said hundreds-wheel, and thereby move the latter one step in unison with the units and tens wheels as the tens-wheel is-carried from 9 to O.

Both the hundreds-wheel H and the cipherwheell are formed with eleven peripheral spaces, and their ratchets are provided correspondingly with eleven teeth instead of ten. The eleven spaces on the hundredswheel bear respectively the figures 1 to 9, the figure 1 repeated, and a blank. Of the eleven spaces on the cipher-wheel I ten are blank and one alone bears a cipher. Both of these wheels are made to move forward one eX- tra step, so as to make two steps in immediate succession in each revolution thereof, by means of a single tooth (seen at i in Fig. 2) upon the ratchet of each of them, made so much longer than the rest as to be invariably engaged by its appropriate actuatingpawl when brought opposite thereto; hence immediately after the regular movement of the hundreds-wheel from 9 to 1 in unison with the movement of the tens-wheel from 9 to O the hundreds-wheel is moved forward an additional step and thereby turnedfrom l to blank as the units-wheel makes its next movement from O to 1. The cipher-wheel is in like manner made, in addition to its regular movement of one step at each movement of the hundreds-wheel, tomove an additional step whenever the figure 1 following the digit 9 upon said hundreds-'wheel has been brought to line of print, so as to bring thereby a blank on the cipher-wheel to line of print in unison with the turning of the blank on the hundreds-wheel to the same line.

The cipher-type on the tens-wheel G is formed upon a post G, (see Figs. 6 and 8,) whose lower end is fitted with a bar G2 transverse to the length of the. cipher-type and whose under face is recessed to form lugs m m at each end of the bar. This cipher-type, with its post and bar, is fitted to play longitudinally in a radial recess formed in the tens-wheel between its 1 and 9 type-divisions, so that the O may be moved therein to and from the line of print. When the 0 is in line of print, the bar G2 is parallel with the aXis of the shaft B, and its lugs m m rest in counterpart circumferential grooves it n (see Figs. 9 and 10) in the periphery of the shaft. The space between these grooves is cut out to form a deep or central recess r, adapted to receive the width of the bar G2, (see Figs. 9 and 10,) and by turning the cipher-type so as to bring said bar at a right angle with the axis of the shaft B, as shown in Figs 7 and 10, the bar will drop into said recess and thereby cause the 0 to drop below the line of print. The O may be turned, when required, with the fingers to cause it to drop inward; or it may be allowed to drop automatically by fitting a pin p (see Figs. 6, '7, and 9) upon the face of the'proximate hundredswheel H to move therewith in a recess t cut to receive it in the opposite face of the tenswheel G, (see Figs. 6 and 7,) so that when the hundreds-wheel is revolving, so as to carry the blank thereon to the line of print, this pin will engage the end of the bar G2 and swing it around so as to cause it to register with the recess in the shaft, as illustrated in Fig. 10.

The drop-cipher G is automatically carried out to line of print by means of a cam projection s, formed within the recess r. This cam s is formed with a laterally-beveled face (see Fig. 10) adapted to engage a counterpart inclined face on the proximate lug m on the bar G2, so that as the `0 is lifted by the cam s it will be also simultaneously turned to bring it into proper position, and the lugs m m on its bar G2 will be brought to rest for support in the grooves n a. of the shaft, in manner as already described.

The alphabet-wheel is formed with ten pe'- ripheral type-divisions, each bearing a letter of the alphabet, and it is moved one step at each complete revolution of the hundredswheel H by means of a lateral pin K, carried on the end of a spring-plate K', (see Figs. 5 and 13,) attached to the proximate face of the hundreds-wheel l-I, and adapted to be sprung into engagement with one of a series of nine apertures w w, (see Fig. 4,) formed at regular intervals in the opposite face of the alphabet-wheel J in a circle concentric with its axis, as shown in Fig. 5. The ninth of said apertures w w is made in the form of an IOCl IIC

elongated slot w', Fig. 4, extending a distance equal to the interval between the several remaining apertures, so that when the pin enters said ninth aperture it will play therein without moving the wheel. The pawl-pin K is forced into engagement with the proximate aperture in the alphabet-wheel once at each revolution of the hundreds-wheel by means of a linger L3, (see Fig. 5,) oscillating with the pawls L, L', and L2 upon the rod e,on which they are pivoted, saidI finger being made to engage and work against an inclined or beveled surface on the pin to move it. (See Fig. 13.) By this means a new letter on the alphabet-Wheel J is brought to line of print at each revolution of the hundreds-wheel Il simultaneously with the appearance of the figure l thereon at line of print until the last letter on the wheel is brought to line of print, when, by reason of the play of the actuatingpin K within the extended slot w', forming the ninth aperture, as above described, the movement of t-he wheel will cease until it is reset to print A.

The printing-wheels I F G I-I J are all separately inked each by means of one of a series of inking-pads M M, severally projecting from a plate M', (see Fig. 1,) pivoted upon a cross-rod N carried upon the ends of two arms N N, pivoted at each end of the case against its inner side, so that their free ends shall intersect the arcs described by the free edge of the oscillating pawl-levers E E and extend up to a point a little below the upper edge ot' the case at the rear of the printing-wheels, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. A series of ink-rollers P P P are fitted to revolve upon a shaft P', extending parallel with the axial shaft B from end t-o end of the casing immediately behind the printingwheels-one for each wheeland the inkingpads M M are severally made to rest upon and reciprocate back and forth over said rollers and over the type moving into line of print, the pad being automatically carried forward into contact with the face of the moving type as the plunger ascends and moved back therefrom and over the inkroller as the plunger descends. (See Fig. 2. The type are thus automatically inked before an impression is taken therefrom. Each roller may be charged with ink of a diiferent color, so as to obtain a corresponding difference in the appearance of each row of gures as a safeguard against counterfeiting them. As an additional safeguard, a different distinctive emblem or character Y, of any suitable description, may be formed for imprint upon each numeral type in addition to and in connection with the number thereon-as, for example, a series of faces Y Y Y, being portraits of distinguished characters, may be engraved upon each typebearing surface, as shown in Fig. l, the several faces being all different and likewise preferably represented in different positions or as looking in various directions, so that no two of them in the entire series of wheels shall be alike. By this means the several printing-wheels cannot be used interchangeably in producing duplicates of an original series of numbers printed therewith; but each wheel and each type and character on the wheel will require to be duplicated to obtain the same results, and no two numbering-machines of the same class will produce exactly the same description of work unless each and every wheel be exactly duplicated.

To permit of an automatic adjustment of the plunger to variations in the thickness of the platen of the press in which the numbering-head is placed, I combine within the plunger C a pin R, tted vertically in a recess in the plunger to project normally slightly beyond its upper face, as shown in Figs. l, 3, and ll, and which is upheld by a powerful coiled spring S, encircling it within the recess, as shown in Fig. 12. The resiliency of the spring is sufficient to actuate the pawls and printing-wheels without allowing the pin to be forced wholly inward; but where the thickness of the platen is increased by layers of paper thereon or otherwise, so as to diminish the interval between the platen and top of the case A, the pin R will yield to the undue pressure thereon and thereby protect the pawls and pawl-levers from strain.

In the operation of this improved consecutive-numbering machine, when the units, tens, and hundreds wheels F G II have been turned so as to present 999 to line of print, the next movement of the plunger will operate, in manner as described, to bring the single 0 on the wheel I to the left of the units-wheel F and the l on the hundredswheel II to line of print simultaneously with the 0 on the units-wheel, while the dropcipher on the tens-wheel Gwill also be carried normally to line of print by the action of the cam S on the axial shaft B, whereby the number 1,000'will be presented for imprint. At the next depression of the plunger the 0 on the tens-wheel will be turned and thereby allowed to drop out of line of print, and the cipher-wheel I and hundreds-wheel II will both be turned one step by reason of the long ratchet-tooth on each, so as to bring the blank space on each to line of print, leaving the l on the units-wheel alone in position'for print, while the alphabet-wheel will at the same moment be turned by the hundredswheel one step to change the type thereon at line of print, by which the several series of printed numbers are designated. The machine is thus made automatically to coinmence during the continuous movements ot' the printing-press a new series of numbers so soon as the consecutive numbers already printed reach 1,000 and to change the letter designating the series. A repetition of the series letters is prevented by the cessation of the movement of the alphabet-wheel when it has made one complete revolution until said ICO wheel has been reset or moved forward by hand in position to print the letter i as above described.

I claim as my inventionl. The combination, in a numbering-head, with its actuating-pawls, its units-wheel, and one or more corresponding type wheels mounted to the right of said units-wheel on the same axial shaft and having like it ten divisions bearing the digits and cipher, of a type-wheel of like diameter mounted on the same shaft next to the right of the last of said wheels and having` eleven peripheral divisions bearing, respectively, in order the figures l to 9, a blank, and a second figure l, ratchetwheels having ten teeth and a deep notch secured to the ten-division wheels, and a ratchet wheel having eleven teeth, one of which is longer than the others, secured to the elevendivision wheel on the right, substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein set forth.

2. The combination, in a numbering-head, with its actuating-pawls, its units-wheel, one or more corresponding typewvheels mounted to the right of said units-wheel on the same axial shaft and having like it ten divisions bearing the digits and cipher, and a typewheel of like diameter mounted on the same shaft next to the right of the last of said wheels and having eleven peripheral divisions bearing, respectively, in order the figures l to 9, a blank, and a second figure l, of an extra wheel of like diameter mounted at the left of vthe units-wheel on the same axis and having eleven peripheral divisions bearing, respect ively, fen blanks and one cipher, and of actuating devices, substantially as described, whereby said wheels having eleven peripheral divisions, both move in unison, and the O on the extra wheel and the l on the wheel to the right are thereby brought simultaneously to line of print and at the next step of the unitswheel moved forward, substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein set forth.

3. The combination, in a numbering-head, with its last numbering-wheel or wheel of highest denomination, and the pawl and ratchetactuating the same, of an alphabetwheel mounted to the right thereof on the same axial shaft, a spring-arm and lateral pawl-pin on the side of the numbering-wheel, a series of holes formed in a concentric circle in the opposite face of the alphabet-wheel at equal intervals corresponding` to the length of stroke of the pawl actuating' the numbering-wheel, a slot in the same circle embracing two of said holes and the space between them, and a finger governed by the pawl actuating the numbering-wheel, and thereby brought into engagement with the pin-arm to move it and produce its engagement with said holes or slot, substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein set forth.

4. The combination, in a numbering-head, with its consecutive-numbering wheels, of a series of type carried by the wheels and bearing numerals indicating the digits and cipher in customary consecutive order in connect-ion with a series of different or distinctive characters severally formed upon each of said type in addition to said numerals, whereby no two of the wheels and no two of the type in the head are duplicates, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

5. The combination, with a numberingwheel in a nu mbering-head, of a cipher-type fitted upon a cylindrical 'post rotating within a radial recess formed in said wheel and having longitudinal play therein, substantially in vthe manner and for the purpose herein set forth.

G. The combination, in a numbering-head, of a radially-perforated numberiiig-wheel, an axial shaft upon which it revolves, having a circumferential recess in register with the radial aperture in the wheel, a post G, sealed to rotate and play longitudinally in said ra- .dial aperture and bearing a cipher-type upon its outer end, a cross-bar G2, fitted upon the inner end of the post at a right angle, or nearly so, to the type, made long enough to span the recess in the shaft, and of a width to enter the same, substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein set forth.

7. rlhecombination, in a numbering-head, of a radially-perforated numbering-wheel, an axial shaft upon which it revolves, having a circumferential recess in register with the radial aperture in the wheel, a post G', seated to rotate and play longitudinally in said radial aperture and bearing a cipher-type upon its outer end, a cross-bar G2, fitted upon its inner end at a right angle, or nearly so, to the type, of a length to span the recess in the shaft, and of a width to enter the same, and a bevel-faced cam S, formed within said recess to engage, lift, and turn the bar and type, substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein set forth.

S. The combination, in a numbering-head, of a radially-perforated numbering-wheel, an axial shaft upon which it revolves, having a circumferential recess in register with the radial aperture in the wheel, a post G', seated to rotate and play longitudinally in said radial aperture and bearing a cipher-type upon its outer end, a cross-bar G2, fitted upon Aits inner end at a right angle, or nearly so, to the type, of a length to span the recess in the shaft, and of a width to enter the same, a bevel-faced cam S, formed within said recess to engage, lift, and turn the bar and type in one direction, and a pin p, projecting from a proximate wheel revolving on the same shaft fo engage the end of said bar G2 and turn it in the opposite direction, substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein set forth.

i). The combination, in a numbering-head, with its case, a series of consccutive-numbering wheels within the case, the axial shaft upon which they revolve, levers pivoted to swing upon said shaft at each end of the series of wheels, a transverse bar connectingy the IOD , lower ends of said levers at the rear of the Wheels, pawls pivoted on said bar and actuating the wheels, a spring-seated verticallyreciprocating plunger mounted in front of the wheels, and a lever interposed between the plunger and case, pivoted to the case to engage at one end the upper ends of the pawl-levers and at the other a pin projecting from the face of the plunger, substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein set fort-h.

lO. The combination, in anumbering-head, with the easing, the several typewheels mounted therein, and the vibrating pawlframe actuating` said Wheels, of a separate inking-roller mounted in front of each Wheel, a reciprocating pad-plate riding upon each roller to move into contact with the proximate type on the proximate type-wheel, and mechanism, substantially as described, connecting` the several pads with the vibrating` pawlframe, whereby the movements of the latter serve to carry the pads from the rollers to the type, and vice versa, substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein. set forth.

ll. The combination, in a numbering-head, with its casing, the several type-wheels mounted therein, and the vibrating pawlframe actuating said wheels, of a separate hiking-roller mounted in front 0f each Wheel, vibrating arms pivoted to the inner face of the ends of the casing and actuated by the pawl-frame to move in unison therewith, a cross-rod connecting` the free ends of said arms, a spring-actuated pad-plate hinged upon said rod, and pads projecting` from said plate each into contact with one of said rollers to bear thereon and ride over the same into contact with the proximate type on the adjacent Wheel, substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES I-I. REINHARDT.

Witnesses:

A. N. JEsBnRA, E. M. WVATsoN. 

